Necktie storage device



May 5, 1964 5.. A. GARDNER NECKTIE' STORAGE DEVICE Filed June 6, 1962 w W/\ 5 r A 22 E w ,4 m I .L.\ M 3 w A A V/W I .1.

BY W i f i k-x United States Patent ()flice 3,131,805 Patented May 5., 1964 3,131,895 NEKTE STSRAGE DEVICE Ernest A. Gardner, '7 737 lershing Road, Lyons, Ell. Filed June 6, 1%2, Ser. No. 2623, 146 3 Qlaims. (ill. 296-7) This invention relates to a. new and improved necktie storage device and more particularly to a combination display and storage device for storing a necktie compactly, without folding or wrinkling, that also permits simultaneous effective display of the tie.

A variety of necktie storage devices have been utilized both for point-of-sale display and for general storage and travel storage. Usually, these storage devices provide a rack of one form or another and the necktie is folded about the rack. A substantial length of the tie is visible behind a transparent partition, especially in those devices used for display purposes as well as for storage. has much as at least one-fourth of the length of the usual necktie should remain flat and unwrinkled in use and in storage, the compactness of storage and display devices of this kind is quite severely limited. Consequently, they are frequently less than satisfactory for travel purposes and may also occupy excessive space in display of the ties for sale.

It is a principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved storage device for storing a necktie compactly without folding or wrinkling, the maximum dimension of the storage device being substantially smaller than one-fourth the length of a conventional necktie.

A related object of the invention is to afiord a storage device which permits storage of a conventional necktie in a minimum space, yet makes it possible to determine instantly the coloring and pattern of the tie.

A particular object of the invention is to afford a simple storage device construction permitting the coiling of a conventional necktie or the like into a compact storage space without wrinkling or folding, thereby affording an inexpensive and economical storage device.

Another object of the invention is to construct an effective and inexpensive necktie storage device that requires only three basic members, yet provides for storage of a necktie in fully visible condition without folding or wrinkling.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a storage device for storing a necktie compactly, without folding or wrinkling, comprising a base member having a surface area slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of a coiled necktie. The device further includes wall means, affixed to the base member and defining therewith a storage chamber that is open at the end opposite the base member; preferably, the wall means is formed integrally with the base member. The storage chamber has a height greater than the width of a necktie to be stored therein and is also provided with an access slot at least as long as the width of the necktie. A top member is utilized to cover the open end of the storage space, this top men ber being engageable with the rim of the wall means. One of the top and base members is provided with a winding post receptacle located centrally thereof; this receptacle may comprise simply an opening in the one member. Further, the device includes Winding means for engaging and coiling a necktie completely Within the storage space by rotation of the top and base members relative to each other, the necktie being pulled through the aforementioned access slot during the coiling operation. This winding means preferably constitutes a Winding post that is releasably engageable in the aforementioned winding post receptacle in one of the top and base members and that is fixedly mounted on the other of these members. Thus, the winding post also serves to mount the top member on the Wall means and thereby close the storage chamber.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and what are now considered to be the best mode for applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a storage device constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view taken approximately along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view taken approximately along line 33 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view, similar to FIG. 3, of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a necktie storage device 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The storage device it) comprises a base member 11, preferably of circular configuration. In the device 10, the base member 11 is provided with a depending flange portion 12 that functions as a support for the necktie storage device.

The storage device 1% further includes wall means 13 allixed to base member 11 and defining, in conjunction with the base member, a storage chamber 14 that is open at the end opposite base member 11. That is, storage chamber 14 is open at the upper end thereof as seen in FIG. 3. In the preferred construction, the wall means 13 is of cylindrical configuration, having an external diameter equal to the external diameter of the disc-shaped base member 11. Furthermore, the wall of the storage device is preferably formed integrally with the base member; for example, base member 11 and wall means 13 may be molded, extruded, or otherwise formed from a single piece of a suitable material such as a polyethylene plastic. Of course, other materials may be employed as desired. In the preferred construction, the wall 13 is substantially transparent to permit direct observation of a tie stored in storage chamber 14 m described hereinafter.

The wall 13 of storage device 19 must be greater in height than the width of a necktie to be stored in the device. An access slot 15 is formed in wall 13 at one point. This access slot must be at least equal in height to the width of a necktie and preferably is made slightly larger to permit efiective utilization of the storage device without folding or wrinkling of a necktie. The Width of the access slot 15 must be great enough to permit relatively free movement of a necktie 1-5 through the slot, and preferably, should readily accept a double thickness of the necktie.

Storage device lit further includes a top member 17 that is generally similar in configuration to base member 11. Thus, top member 17 is engageable with the rim of wall means 13 and is effective to cover the open end of storage chamber 14 when disposed in its normal position of use, as fllustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. Top member 17 may comprise, essentially, a simple disc formed of wood, plastic, or other suitable material.

In accordance with the present invention, one of the top and base members 17 and 11 is provided with a winding post receptacle centrally located with respect to the member. In storage device 16, this receptacle is constituted by a relatively small central opening 18 in base member 11.

The storage device further includes winding means for engaging and coiling the necktie 16 completely Within storage chamber 14. This winding means comprises a bifurcated center post 21 that is afiixed to top member 17 at the center thereof and projects from the top member down through the central portion of storage chamber 14. The two arms 22 and 23 of winding post 21 terminate in outwardly flared portions 24 and 25 respectively. The winding post is constructed from a material that is at least slightly resilient, so that the two flared end portions 24 and 25 can be pressed toward each other to permit their removal through the winding post opening or receptable 18 in base member 11. As will be apparent from the drawing, winding post 21 most closely resembles a somewhat foreshortened wood clothespin, and an effective winding post can be constructed using a clothespin of this kind. On the other hand, it may be desirable to fabricate the winding post from a plastic material, particularly if the winding post is to be formed integrally with top member 17, a construction that may be utilized if preferred.

Utilization of storage device 16 is quite simple and expedient. To begin with, a tie 16 to be stored in device It is looped through the central opening 27 in winding post 21 and is extended outwardly of the storage chamber 14 through access slot 15. This can be accomplished with the top 17 slightly displaced from its mounted position; the winding post is then inserted through opening 18 in base member 11 to assemble the storage device. There is no need to loop tie 16 exactly at its center and, in fact, one end of the necktie may be engaged in slot 27.

Once the storage device is assembled, it is a simple matter to turn the base and top members 11 and 17 relative to each other to coil tie 16 on winding post 21 Within storage chamber 14. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the tie almost completely coiled. A slight additional turning movement in the direction of arrow A will complete the coiling of the tie within the storage chamber of device 10.

Despite the simplicity of construction, winding post 21 serves a multiple function in connection with storage device 1t). Initially, it serves as a retainer to hold one end of a central portion of the necktie 16. Further, post 21 afiords a core upon which the necktie may be coiled, permitting compact storage within chamber 14 without folding or wrinkling of the necktie. Moreover, the winding post affords an effective and convenient means for releasably mounting top member 17 on the base portion of thestorage device.

It is quite advantageous to use a cylindrical configuration for the interior surface of the storage device Wall 13,

. since this facilitates smooth, even coiling of tie 16. The

external configuration of the device, however, need not be cylindrical. Thus, the external surface of wall 13, and the peripheral surfaces of base 11 and top '17, can be trifirst-described embodiment, is one which permits rotation of the winding post relative to its support. Top member 37 is provided with a central opening or receptacle 38 angular, square, hexagonal, elliptical, or any other desired configuration.

. FIG. 4 illustrates a storage device 30 that is essentially similar in construction to device 10but has been modified in certain respects, and" accordingly, constitutes another embodiment of the present invention. Storage device 30 7 comprises abase member 31 formed integrally with an encompassing cylindricalwall 33, the members'31 and 33 preferably being formed as an integral plastic molding or the like. As before, wall 33 is provided with an access slot 35 having a height suflicient to accept the width'of a tie 36. 'The storage space 34 defined by base member that is similar in configuration to the'base member 31.

In this instance, however, the Winding post 41 of the storage device is not afiixed to the top member. Instead, winding post 41 is mounted on the center of basemember g .31 and' wall 33is closed, as before, by a top member 37' V 31 and projects upwardly thereof through the central axial portion of storage space 34. The mounting of post 41 in base member 31, unlike the arrangement in the which is engaged by -the ends 45 of the winding post to secure the top member to the base portion of the storage device. In this instance, the receptacle or opening 38 is made asymmetrical and the winding post ends 45 are of complementary configuration, so that rotational movement of top 37 constrains the winding post 41 to a similar rotational movement, thereby permitting effective coiling of tie 36 on winding post 41 in the use of the device.

In utilizing storage device 30, the procedure is essentially that outlined above. In this instance, tie 36 is looped through the central slot 37 in winding post 41 and is extended downwardly through access slot 35 in the wall of the storage device. on the end portion 45 of the winding post and is rotated to coil the tie within storage space 34.

Where the walls of the storage device are made transparent, enough of the tie is visible to identify it. The storage device and tie occupy a minimum volume, ,yet there is no folding or wrinkling of the tie. Both embodiments of the invention, devices 10 and 30, are quite simple and inexpensive in construction and both can be used conveniently and expeditiously by virtually anyone. The maximum dimension of the storage device, in each instance, is much smaller than the minimum quarter tie length required for tie display and storage devices of more conventional construction.

Hence, while preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is to be understood that they are capable of variation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I cla m:

1. A storage device for storing a necktie compactly without folding or wrinkling comprising:

a base member having a surface area larger than the cross-sectional area of a coiled necktie;

wall means, afiixed to said base member and defining therewith a storage chamber open at the end opposite said base member, said wall means having a height greater than the Width of a necktie to be stored and having an access slot therein at least equal to the width of the necktie, said' access slot being open at the top of said wall means;

a top member, engageable with said wall means, for covering the open end of said storage chamber, one of said top and base members having a winding post receptacle for engaging a winding post in rotatable latch engagement located centrally thereof;

and winding means for engaging. and coiling a necktie completely Within said storage chamber by rotation of said top and base members relative to each other, the necktie being pulled through said access slot during coiling, said winding means comprising a bifurcated resilient winding post having a length greater than the width of a'necktie, mounted on the other one of said top and base members, and having a flared end portion releasably engageable in rotatable latched engagement in said receptacle, by compression of said winding post bifurcations, to mount said top member on said wall means and close said storage chamber, the latching engagement between said winding post and said receptacle holding said top member in mounted position on said base member wall means. i

2. A storage device for storing a necktie compactly without folding =0r wrinkling comprising:

a base member having a surface area larger than the cross-sectional area of a coiled necktie and having a Top 37 is then mounted in place.

a cylindrical wall, afiixed to said base member and defining therewith a storage chamber open at the end opposite said base member, said Wall having a height greater than the Width of a necktie to be stored and said base member and defining therewith a storage chamber open at the end opposite said base member, said Wall having a height greater than the width of a necktie to be stored and having an access slot, ex-

having an access slot, parallel to the axis thereof 5 tending longitudinally from the rim of the storage open at the top of said wall, having a height at least chamber for a distance at least equal to the Width equal to the width of the necktie; of the necktie, said access slot being wide enough to a top member, engageable with the rim portion of said accept a double thickness of the necktie;

wall, for covering the open end of said storage chama top member, engageable with said Wall means, for her; 10 covering the open end of said storage chamber, one

and Winding means for engaging and coiling a necktie of said top and base members having a winding post completely Within said storage chamber by rotation receptacle located centrally thereof for engaging a of said top and base members relative to each other, Winding post in rotatable latched engagement; the necktie being pulled through said access slot durand winding means for engaging and coiling a necktie ing coiling, said Winding means comprising a Windcompletely Within said storage chamber by rotation ing post having a length greater than the width of of said top and base members relative to each other, a necktie mounted on said top member, and releasthe necktie being pulled through said access slot ably engageable in rotatable latched engagement in during coiling, said winding means comprising a said post receptacle in said base member to mount Winding post having a length greater than the Width said top member on said wall and close said storage 0 of a necktie, mounted on the other one of said top chamber, the latching engagement between said and base members, and releasably engageable in ro- Winding post and said receptacle holding said top tatable latched engagement in said receptacle to member in mounted position engaged with the rim mount said top member on said wall means to close portion of said wall. said storage chamber.

3. A storage and display device for storing and displaymg a necktie p y, Without folding or wrinkling, References Cited in the file of this patent comprising:

a disc-shaped plastic base member having a surface UNITED STATES PATENTS area larger than the cross-sectional area of a coiled 1,537,073 Fisk May 12, 1925 e; 1,989,583 Bergstrand Jan. 29, 1935 a transparent cylindrical Wall formed integrally with 2 352,427 Gantt Jun 27, 1944 

1. A STORAGE DEVICE FOR STORING A NECKTIE COMPACTLY WITHOUT FOLDING OR WRINKLING COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER HAVING A SURFACE AREA LARGER THAN THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF A COILED NECKTIE; WALL MEANS, AFFIXED TO SAID BASE MEMBER AND DEFINING THEREWITH A STORAGE CHAMBER OPEN AT THE END OPPOSITE SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID WALL HAVING A HEIGHT GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF A NECKTIE TO BE STORED AND HAVING AN ACCESS SLOT THEREIN AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF THE NECKTIE, SAID ACCESS SLOT BEING OPEN AT THE TOP OF SAID WALL MEANS; A TOP MEMBER, ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID WALL MEANS, FOR COVERING THE OPEN END OF SAID STORAGE CHAMBER, ONE OF SAID TOP AND BASE MEMBERS HAVING A WINDING POST RECEPTACLE FOR ENGAGING A WINDING POST IN ROTATABLE LATCH ENGAGEMENT LOCATED CENTRALLY THEREOF; AND WINDING MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND COILING A NECKTIE COMPLETELY WITHIN SAID STORAGE CHAMBER BY ROTATION OF SAID TOP AND BASE MEMBERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, THE NECKTIE BEING PULLED THROUGH SAID ACCESS SLOT DURING COILING, SAID WINDING MEANS COMPRISING A BIFURCATED RESILIENT WINDING POST HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF A NECKTIE, MOUNTED ON THE OTHER ONE OF SAID TOP AND BASE MEMBERS, AND HAVING A FLARED END PORTION RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE IN ROTATBLE LATCHED ENGAGEMENT IN SAID RECEPTACLE, BY COMPRESSION OF SAID WINDING POST BIFURCATIONS, TO MOUNT SAID TOP MEMBER ON SAID WALL MEANS AND CLOSE SAID STORAGE CHAMBER, THE LATCHING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID WINDING POST AND SAID RECEPTACLE HOLDING SAID TOP MEMBER IN MOUNTED POSITION ON SAID BASE MEMBER WALL MEANS. 